Blues Ready To Battle Arsenal & Man Utd For £52m-Rated Duo

Chelsea are ready to battle with Arsenal and Manchester United for two of their key summer targets. Here’s more on one of today’s big transfer stories…..

Chelsea are ready to rival Arsenal and Manchester United over the signing of Southampton duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne this summer, according to reports.

The Blues are on course to lifting the Premier League this season but after once again falling short in the Champions League, it seems Jose Mourinho is ready to further strengthen his squad this summer.

It appears the Portuguese coach is already lining-up his targets as the Guardian claim he sent his scouts to Goodison Park on Saturday to watch Schneiderlin and Clyne in action as Southampton lost 1-0 to Everton.

Schneiderlin has already gone public with his desire to join a club in the Champions League this summer and Southampton may have to reluctantly cash-in on the midfielder after blocking his exit last summer.

Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for the French international in recent months but it seems Arsene Wenger will now face stiff competition from Chelsea for the £25m-rated midfielder.

Schneiderlin has been outstanding at the heart of the Saints team for the last two seasons and he fully deserves to step up and play for a top club but it will be interesting to see who the 25-year-old chooses if both Arsenal and Chelsea are in the running.

He’d face a battle to break into either team such is the talent already available to Mourinho and Wenger, but Schneiderlin would be an excellent addition to either squad and would give both clubs real depth in the holding midfield department.

Clyne has also been a stand-out performer for Ronald Koeman’s side but with the right-back about to enter the final year of his contract and no sign of a new deal being signed any time soon, a move this summer looks increasingly likely.

Manchester United have been leading the chase for the £25m-rated defenders signature but the Guardian claim that Chelsea are interested in taking the 24-year-old to Stamford Bridge this summer.

However, regular first team action may be hard to come by at Chelsea as Clyne would be up against both Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta – who are two of the best full-backs in the league.

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So if guaranteed action is what the player is after then he may decide a switch to United is best for his development as Louis van Gaal is desperate for a new right-back. The Dutchman has lost faith in Rafael and Antonio Valencia has been forced to deputise for much of the season, so Clyne would slot right in at Old Trafford.

It’s going to be interesting to see how this all develops but if Chelsea do manage to beat Arsenal and United to the signings of Schneiderlin and Clyne, then it would be £52m well spent and they’d have further strengthened their already formidable squad.